Remote channel over-ride system

ABSTRACT

A receiver includes a remote-manual switching means and bidirectional motor means responsive to remote signals for driving a rotary switching means to provide potentials representative of selected signal channels for a tuner. A sustaining circuit serves to maintain operation of the motor means intermediate signal channel selection and a remote channel over-ride system compares the potential of the selected signal channel with a reference potential to control the sustaining circuitry and the motor means whereby signal channels may be adjusted to cause over-ride thereof by the motor means.

States Patent Funston Mar. 12, 1974 REMOTE CHANNEL OVER-RIDE SYSTEM Primary ExaminerBemard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-W. E. Duncanson Jr. 75 Inventor: David Lee Funston, Batavia, NY. 1 Attorney, Agent, or FirmNorman J. OMalley; [73] Assignee: GTE Sylvania, Seneca Falls, NY. Th H Buffton; Cyril A. Krenzer [22] Filed: Mar. 28, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 345,491 [57] ABSTRACT A receiver includes a remote-manual switching means 52 US. Cl. 318/467, 318/663 a l .esponswe signals for driving a rotary switching means to provide [51] Int. Cl. G05b 11/01 otemials re resemative of selected Si nal Channels [58] Field of Search 318/264, 265, 466, 467, p p g for a tuner. A sustaining circult serves to mamtam 318/479, 663

operation of the motor means intermediate signal 56] References cued channel selection and a remote channel over-ride system compares the potential of the selected signal UNITED STATES PATENTS channel with a reference potential to control the sus- 3,043,998 7/1962 Lunn et al. 318/663 taining circuitry and the motor means whereby signal 3,444,446 5/ 1969 Burg et 313/663 X channels may be adjusted to cause over-ride thereof 3,543,123 11/1970 Cavanagh 318/467 by the motor means 3,564,380 2/1971 Zeldman .v 318/663 REMOTE SIGNA 9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure POTENTIAL SOURCE I POTENTIAL SOURCE 2 BAND SWITCH CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a better understanding of the present invention,

An application entitled Pushbutton Tuning System 5 together with other and further objects, advantages and filed in the names of William Lee Arrington and Lee Irving Merz filed on Jan. 26, 1973 and bearing Ser. No. 326,759 relates to a pushbutton type signal channel selector. Another application entitled Remote-Manual Switching System filed Jan. 26, 1973 in the name of W. L. Arrington et al., and bearing Ser. No. 326,830 deals with remote-manual switching apparatus for a signal receiver. Still another application entitled Control Circuitry for Remote Tuning System filed Jan. 26, i973 in the name of Paul Eshelman LeFevre and bearing Ser. No. 326,828 deals with switching and sustaining circuitry for effecting continued rotation of a rotary switch intermediate channel selection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an over-ride system in a remote controlled signal receiver. Herein, individual signal channels may be adjusted to provide a potential for comparison with a given level of potential whereby continuance or discontinuance of a drive motor and rotary switching means for signal channel selection may be effected.

Generally, the tuner rotor of a tuner unit is driven by a remotely controlled motor. To bypass an unwanted channel, a tuning slug is driven to the end or limit of travel whereat it actuates a separate switch which causes the motor to bypass or skip over the certain selected channels.

Although the above-mentioned apparatus has been and still is widely employed in numerous signal receivers, it has been found that there are signal receiver systems wherein such apparatus leave something to be desired. More specifically, it has been found that the additional switching components undesirably add both expense and complexity to the remote control apparatus.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an enhanced remote control system for a signal receiver. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved remote control system having a signal channel over-ride capability. Still another object of the invention is to provide an enhanced signal channel over-ride system utilizing potential levels as a control for signal channel selection.

These and other objects, advantages and capabilities are achieved in one aspect of the invention by a remote signal channel over-ride system wherein each signal channel is adjustable to provide a potential which is compared with a given potential for effecting a differential control potential to cause continuance or discontinuance of a motor drive system whereby-selected signal channels may be by-passed as predetermined by a viewer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The lone FIGURE is an illustration, in block and schematic form, of a remote control system for a signal receiver wherein is included a preferred form of signal channel over-ride system.

capabilities, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a remote control system for a signal receiver includes a signal channel over-ride 'system. Herein, a remote controlled signal source 5 provides a pair of signals at differing frequencies which are applied separately to a pair of tuned circuits 7 and 9. Each of the tuned circuits 7 and 9 is coupled to the first and second potential development means, 11 and 13 respectively, wherein is included a detector 15, amplifier 17, and switching means 19.

The first and second potential development means 11 and 13 are each coupled to a motor means 21 by way of a motor relay coil 23. The motor means 21 is mechanically coupled to and drives a rotary switching means 25. In turn, the rotary switching means 25 is coupled to a remote-manual switching means 27 which is coupled to the first and second potential development means 1 1 and 13 as well as to first and second potential sources 29 and 31.

A potential from the first potential source 29 is applicable via the remote-manual switching means 27 and the rotary switching means 25 to a band switch circuit 33. The band switch circuit 33, in turn, directs a potential to an appropriate tuner stage 35 and to a potential sustaining circuit 37. A potential from the second potential source 31 is also applied via the remote-manual switching means 27 and the rotary switching means 25 to the tuner stage 35 and to signal over-ride apparatus 39. Moreover, a potential from the first potential source 29 is applied via the remote-manual switching means 27 and rotary switching means 25 to the signal over-ride apparatus 39 in accordance with the positional location of the remote-manual switching means 27.

More specifically, the potential sustaining means 37 includes an electron device 41 having an emitter electrode coupled to circuit ground. A base electrode is connected to ground by a resistor 43 and to a potential source B+ by series connected resistors 45 and 47. The junction of resistors 45 and 47 is connected to circuit ground by a series connected diode 46 and resistor 48. The collector electrode is coupled to the potential source B+ by a resistor 49 and to the junction 50 of back to back diodes 51 and 53 respectively. One of the diodes 51 is coupled by a resistor 55 to the first potential development means 11 while the other diode 53 is connected by a resistor 57 to the second potential development means 13.

The signal over-ride apparatus 39 includes an electron device 59 having an emitter electrode coupled to the junction 61 of a voltage divider 63 in the form of first and second resistors 65 and 67 series connected to a potential source 3+ and circuit ground. The base electrode is coupled by a resistor 68 to ground, a diode 69 to the tuner stage 35 and the rotary switching means 25 wherefrorn a control potential is received. The collector electrode is connected to circuit ground by a resistor 71, to the rotary switching means 25 by a diode 73, and to the potential sustaining means 37 by a diode 75. Moreover, the junction 77 of a diode 79 and resistor 81 coupling the junction of the diode 75 and potential sustaining means 37 to circuit ground is coupled to the rotary switching means 25.

As to operation, a signal from the remote signal source 5 develops a potential at one of the tuned circuits, 7 for example, which is applied to the first potential development means 11. Therein, the potential is detected and amplified and applied to the remotemanual switching means 27 to effect a remote positioned location. Also, the motor relay 23 is energized whereupon the drive motor 21 mechanically activates the rotary switching means 25.

Upon activation of the remote-manual switching means 27, a potential from the first potential source 29 is applied to the band switching circuitry 33 which provides a potential for the appropriate tuner stage 35. Moreover, when 'the rotary switching means 25 is on a signal channel contact, a potential is applied via the band switching means 33 to the junction of the diode 46 and resistor 48 whereupon the diode 46 is back biased and current flow through the base electrode of the electron device 41 to circuit ground is effected.

When the rotary switching means 25 is intermediate signal channel contacts, the potential from the band switching circuit 33 which is normally applied to the junction of the series connected diode 46 and resistor 48 of the potential sustaining means 37 is absent. Thereupon, the diode 46 is no longer back biased and current flows from the potential source B+ via the resistor 47, diode 46, and resistor 48 to circuit ground. Thus, the current which would normally flow through the resistor 45 and the base-emitter electrodes of the transistor 41 is no longer present and the transistor 41 is rendered non-conductive.

With the transistor 41 turned off, current from the potential source B+ will flow through the resistor 49, diode 51, and resistor 55 to the first potential development means 11 causing continuance of the drive motor 21 in a given direction until a succeeding signal channel is reached. In other words, the potential sustaining means 37 insures continued rotation of the drive motor 21 and rotary switching means 25 in a given direction even though the initiating potential is not present intermediate signal channels.

Further, a signal channel over ride capability is achieved by adjusting a given signal channel such that a relatively high potential is applied from the second potential source 31 via the remote-manual switching means 27, and rotary switching means 25 to the diode 69 coupled to the base electrode of the electron device 59 of the over-ride apparatus 39. When this applied potential exceeds the potential level available at the voltage divider 63, the electron device 59 is rendered nonconductive. Thereupon, the diode 75 will be forward biased causing the electron device 41 of the potential sustaining means 37 to be non-conductive and again causing the drive motor 21 to continue movement of the rotary switching means 25 and effect by-passing of the given signal channel.

Additionally, a bias potential is applied from the rotary switching means 25 via the diode 73 to the signal over-ride apparatus 39 during manual operation whereby the signal over-ride system is essentially disabled. Moreover, the junction 77 of the diode 79 and resistor 81 has potential applied thereto during remote operation in an amount sufficient to back-bias the diode 79 whereupon current flow therethrough is restricted during remote operation.

In summary, a signal from a remote signal source 5 causes the motor means 21 to drive the rotary switching means 25 in a given direction. The potential sustaining means 37 sustains this drive potential as the totary switching means 25 travels between signal channel contacts. Moreover, by adjusting the potential available from a given signal channel such that the potential is greater than the level of potential pre-set in the signal over-ride apparatus, the over-ride apparatus 39 energizes the potential sustaining means 37 such that the motor means 21 continues to drive the rotary switching means 25 to a signal channel which has not been so adjusted.

Thus, there has been provided an enhanced remote control system for a signal receiver. The control system includes improved signal channel over-ride apparatus which is relatively inexpensive and relatively simple of construction and operation. Moreover, the over-ride apparatus utilizes structure already existing in the remote control system which eliminates costly additions for the separate and desired over-ride capability.

While there has been shown and described what at present is considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a remotely controllable signal receiver having a remote-manual switching means and a bi-directional motor means responsive to remote signals for driving a rotary switching means to provide potentials representative of selected signal channels with sustaining circuitry for maintaining motor drive intermediate signal channels, a remote channel over-ride system comprising:

a potential source having a given potential level;

switching means coupled to said potential source,

said sustaining circuitry, and said rotary switching means for altering the energization of said sustaining means and the drive of said motor means in accordance with a comparison of the potential of said potential source and the potential from said rotary switching means as provided by a selected signal channel whereby the magnitude of the potential from said rotary switching. means is compared with the potential level of said potential source to permit continuance or discontinuance of said motor drive in accordance with the potential provided by selected signal channels.

2. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said potential source is in the form of a voltage divider coupled intermediate a supply potential and a potential reference level.

3. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device having an input electrode coupled to said potential source, an output electrode coupled to said sustaining circuitry, and a control electrode coupled to said rotary switching means whereby the potential differential of said potential source and rotary switching means controls said sustaining circuitry and drive motor to effect over-ride of signal channels in accordance with selected potential settings thereof.

4. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device coupled to said potential source and said rotary switching means and a unidirectional conduction device coupling said electron device to said sustaining means.

5. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device having an input electrode coupled to said potential source, a control electrode coupled to said rotary switching means, and an output electrode coupled to circuit ground by a resistor and to said sustaining means by a unidirectional conduction device.

6. In a remotely controllable signal receiver wherein a remote-manual switching means and a bi-directional motor means are activated by a remote signal to affect activation of a rotary switching means for selective coupling to signal channels to provide a potential representative thereof and to sustaining circuitry for maintaining activation of said motor means and rotary switching means intermediate said coupling to said signal channels, a remote channel over-ride system comprising:

switching means coupled to said rotary switching means and to said sustaining circuitry; and

a potential source coupled to said switching means whereby the differential in potential of said potential source and said potential from said rotary switching means representative of a selected channel serves as a control signal for energization con trol of said sustaining circuitry, said motor means, and said rotary switching means whereby a remotely selected channel is over-ridden when the potential provided thereby results in a differential control signal which sustains activation of said motor and rotary switching means.

7. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein said switching means includes an electron device coupled to said potential source, to said source of potential representative of a selected signal channel, and by a resistor to circuit ground and a unidirectional conduction device to said sustaining circuitry.

8. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein said switching means includes a transistor hav-' ing an emitter electrode coupled to said potential source, a base electrode coupled to said potential representative of a selected signal channel, and a collector electrode coupled to circuit ground by a resistor and to said sustaining circuitry by a unidirectional conduction device.

9. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein a diode and resistor series connected the junction of said switching means and said sustaining circuitry to a potential reference level with the junction of said diode and resistor coupled to said remote-manual switching means to effect non-conduction of said diode during remote operation. 

1. In a remotely controllable signal receiver having a remotemanual switching means and a bi-directional motor means responsive to remote signals for driving a rotary switching means to provide potentials representative of selected signal channels with sustaining circuitry for maintaining motor drive intermediate signal channels, a remote channel over-ride system comprising: a potential source having a given potential level; switching means coupled to said potential source, said sustaining circuitry, and said rotary switching means for altering the energization of said sustaining means and the drive of said motor means in accordance with a comparison of the potential of said potential source and the potential from said rotary switching means as provided by a selected signal channel whereby the magnitude of the potential from said rotary switching means is compared with the potential level of said potential source to permit continuance or discontinuance of said motor drive in accordance with the potential provided by selected signal channels.
 2. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said potential source is in the form of a voltage divider coupled intermediate a supply potential and a potential reference level.
 3. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device having an input electrode coupled to said potential source, an output electrode coupled to said sustaining circuitry, and a control electrode coupled to said rotary switching means whereby the potential differential of said potential source and rotary switching means controls said sustaining circuitry and drive motor to effect over-ride of signal channels in accordance with selected potential settings thereof.
 4. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device coupled to said potential source and said rotary switching means and a unidirectional conduction device coupling said electron device to said sustaining means.
 5. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 1 wherein said switching means includes an electron device having an input electrode coupled to said potential source, a control electrode coupled to said rotary switching means, and an output electrode coupled to circuit ground by a resistor and to said sustaining means by a unidirectional conduction device.
 6. In a remotely controllable signal receiver wherein a remote-manual switching means and a bi-directional motor means are activated by a remote signal to affect activation of a rotary switching means for selective coupling to signal channels to provide a potential representative thereof and to sustaining circuitry for maintaining activation of said motor means and rotary switching means intermediate said coupling to said signal channels, a remote channel over-ride system comprising: switching means coupled to said rotary switching means and to said sustaining circuitry; and a potential source coupled to said switching means whereby the differential in potential of said potential source and said potential from said rotary switching means representative of a selected channel serves as a control signal for energization control of said sustaining circuitry, said motor means, and said rotary switching means whereby a remotely selected channel is over-ridden when the potential provided thereby results in a differential control signal which sustains activation of said motor and rotary switching meanS.
 7. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein said switching means includes an electron device coupled to said potential source, to said source of potential representative of a selected signal channel, and by a resistor to circuit ground and a unidirectional conduction device to said sustaining circuitry.
 8. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein said switching means includes a transistor having an emitter electrode coupled to said potential source, a base electrode coupled to said potential representative of a selected signal channel, and a collector electrode coupled to circuit ground by a resistor and to said sustaining circuitry by a unidirectional conduction device.
 9. The remote channel over-ride system of claim 6 wherein a diode and resistor series connected the junction of said switching means and said sustaining circuitry to a potential reference level with the junction of said diode and resistor coupled to said remote-manual switching means to effect non-conduction of said diode during remote operation. 